Pebble heater apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 o onO April 25, 1950 Filed Jan. 5, 1948 INVENTOR. DONALD q. oulGG Arron/vers 25, 1950 D. J. QUIGG PEBBLE HEATER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5. 1948 INVEN TOR. DONALD J. QUIGG ATT ORNE YS Patented :giallo` -f Donald J. Quill, Bartlelville. 0R18., signor to Phillips Petroleum Delaware Company, a corporation of Application anuary 5, i948, Serial No. 538

s claims. (cl. zes-i9) 'rms invention relates to pebble heater epperetus. In one of its more speciilc aspects it relates to improved pebble heater or regeneration chambers of pebble heater apparatus. In another of its more speciilc aspects it relates to improved gas heater vchambers.- In another of its more speciilc aspects it relates to means for removing stagnant pebble areas from pebble beds within pebble heater apparatus.. f

f Thermal conversion processes which are carried out in so-called pebble heater apparatus utilize a flowing of solid heat exchange ma- .terial. which mass is heated to a high temperature by passing hot gas therethrough in ailrst direct heat exchange step and is then caused -to contact gaseous reactant materials furnishing heat thereto in a second direct heatexchange. The conventional pebble heater apparatus generally comprises two chambers which may be disposed in substantially vertical alignment. The solid heat exchange material is introduced into the upper portion of the rst chamber. That material forms a moving bed of solid heat ex- .change material which ilows downwardly through heater apparatus are generally formed as cylinders in which a solid heat exchange material is collected in the form of a movingbed. Hot heat exchange gases are sometimes introduced into the cylindrical bed at its lower periphery and are sometimes introduced through a refractory arch which supports the moving pebble bed. 'I'he solid heat exchange -material is drawn from substantially a central point in the bottom of the bed and is passed downwardly into a gas heating chamber where a second moving bed of solid heat exchange material is formed. One disadvantage of conventional pebble heater chambers is that it is most diflicult to establish uniform now of uniformly heated solid heat exchange material from the pebble heating chamber to the gas heating chamber. In the withdrawal of solid heat exchange material from a substantially central point in the bottom of the pebble heatingchamber the moving solid heat exchange material tends to form a cone. That material which is below and outside of the cone remains in what is substantially a stagnant area. At the same time when solid heat exchange material is introduced centrally into the upper portion of .the pebble` heating chamber the top of the solid heat exchange material forms an inverted cone extending downwardly and outwardly from 'the material inlet in the top ofthe chamber. I t will thus be seen that the pebble bed is of lesser height at its periphery than at its axis because of the fact that the top of the pebble bed is formed in the shape of a cone. The hot gaseous heat exchange material which is introduced at the bottom of the solid bed seeks a path of least resistance upwardly through the solid material. Inasmuch as the bed is vthinner at its outer periphery than at its axis the gas tends to channel through that material making up the periphery ofthe solid material bed, thus imparting heat to the material at the periphery while failing to raise the, central portion of the solid material'bed to the same temperature. The solid material which comes to rest in the stagnant areas, once raised to the temperature of the hot gaseous heat exchange material, fails to thereafter enter substantially into heat exchange relation with the hot gaseous material. It will thus be seen that the hot gaseous materials pass through an even thinnerlayer of solid material which will enter into a heat exchange relation therewith. For the reasons above described, 'large amounts of heat are lost by escape of the gaseous heat exchange material from the pebble heating chamber without its yhaving imparted a maximum of its heat to the solid material bed. A

Solid heat exchange material which is conventionally used in pebble heater apparatus is generally called pebbles The term "pebbl as used herein denotes any solid refractory material of flowable size and form having strength. which is suitable to carry large amounts of heat from the pebble heating chamber to the gas heating chamber without rapid deterioration or substantial breaking. Pebbles conventionally used in pebble heater apparatus are substantially spherical in shape and range from about l@ inch to about 1 inch in diameter. In a high temperature process pebbles having av diameter of between about 1A to inch are preferred. The pebbles must be formed of a refractory material which will withstand temperatures at least as high as the highest temperature attained in the pebble heating chamber. The pebbles must also be capable of withstanding temperature changes within the apparatus. Refractory materials, such as `below closure member I6.

metal alloys. ceramics, or other satisfactory material may be utilized to form such pebbles. Silicon carbide, alumina, periclase, beryllia, stellite, zirconia, and mullite may be satisfactorily used to form such pebbles or may be used in admixture with each other or with other materials. Pebbles formed of such materials. when properly fired, serve very well in high temperatures, some withstanding temperatures up to about 3500" F. Pebbles which are used may be either inert or catalytic as used in any selected process.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for heating pebbles in pebble heater apparatus. Another object is to provide an improved method oi' flowing pebbles through a pebble heater chamber. Another object is to provide improved means for evenly heating pebbles in pebble heater chambers. Another object is to provide an improved method for heating pebbles in pebble heater apparatus. Another object is to reduce non-moving portions of pebble beds in pebble heater apparatus. Other and fur. ther objects and advantages will be apparent upon study of the accompanying discussion, the drawings and the claims.

Understanding of the invention will bey facilitated upon reference to the diagrammatic drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation partially in section of pebble heater and gas heater chambers of a pebble heater apparatus embodying the invention. Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken y along line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along line 3--3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a schematic view of a pebble heater apparatus. l

In Figure 1 a pebble heater chamber and gas heater chamber are enclosed in closed outer shell II which is closed at its upper end by closure member I2 and at its lower end by closure member I3. The walls of shell 'II are lined with insulating means, which may include common refractory material Il, and super-refractory ma-` terial I5 backed by common refractory material or other insulation backing material. Shell I I is provided intermediate its ends with closure member I6 which may act as a bottom for a pebble heater chamber formed above closure member I3 and as a top for a gas heater chamber formed As is obvious, the pebble heater and gas heater chambers could be formed inseparate shells having separate topsv and bottoms, but for the sake of compactness the single unitl construction is preferred. Closure member I6 is protected on its upper and lower sides by layers of suitable insulation material. Closure member-i1 is provided above closure I6, intermediate the ends of the pebble heater chamber and yadapted so as to form a pebble heater zone above closure Il and a combustion zone between closure i1 and insulatedclosure I6. Closure I1 is formed by joining the upper rims of the conical portions of funnel-shaped pebble outlet members I 8. Funnel-shaped outlet members I8 are preferably constructed of a refractory material. The lower portion or the cylindrical sections of the funnels may be constructed of a'plur-ality of rings of flattapered bricks which bricks .are provided with tongues on one flat side and to form a cylindrical outer surface but that is not a necessity. It is also possible to form these sections of flat rings of refractory which are provided with cooperating tongues and grooves or other locking means for holding them in coaxial position. These refractory pieces may be tted together so as to form cylindrical or tubularportions of funnel-shaped outlets I8. conical-shaped portions I9 of funnelshaped outlets I8are preferably formed of refractory pieces or bricks described above which may be fitted together to form rings,

Vwhich rings will have progressively larger diameters with each added layer above the tubular portions of outlets I8. The conical portions so formed may have an irregular surface but it is preferred that the inner ends of the tapered bricks should be so sloped from top to bottom that when fitted together they form cones having a relatively smooth inner surface. The closure is completed by placing caps on top of the rims of the conical portions which will close the open space left between those inverted cones. The caps are preferably provided with .a central ridge from which they slope outwardly so as to form at least a modified continuation of the slope of the funnels. Refractory pieces are also provided in layers which extend between the insulation lining of shell II and the invertedcones so as to complete closure I1. The cylindrical portions of funnel-shaped outlet members I8 are preferably supported by closure member I6. Tubular openings which extend the length of the cylindrical vportions of the funnel-shaped pebble outlets are 4'5 shoulders on their outer surfaces which may be supported by contact with bushing members 24 which are slipped over the lower end of conduits 23 and are removably afllxed, such as by threaded connections, to closure member I8. In that manner conduits 23 are maintained in position. The tubular opening extending through conduits 23 is preferably of substantially the same diameter as openings 22 in inverted conical portions I9. It is within the scope of the invention that conduits 23 may extend into and adjacent the tops of openings 22 thus allowing openings 22 to be of substantially the same size as the tubular openingsl extending the length of the cylindrical portions of the funnel-sh-aped outlets. Perforatons 25 extend laterally from combustion zone 26 through conical portions I9 of outlets I8 so as to communicate between combustion zone 26 and pebble heater zone 21. Perforations 25 preferably extend in such direction that pebbles passing through outlets I8 will not pass outwardly through perforations 25. It is believed that perare preferably concavely curved so as to form a smooth circular opening therethrough. The widest end of the bricks may be convexly rounded so as foratlons extending inwardly through the conical portions in a direction not above the horizontal to any possible angle below the horizontal, may be utilized. Burner means, such as burners 28, are provided so as to extend into combustion zone 26. It is preferred that burners 28 extend tangentially in the combustion zone. Fluid inlet conduit 29 is provided so as to extend through the 7*'5 wall of the chamber so as to communicate with e asomar s.. the cylindricalportions of outlets Il.' Asection of conduits il should be perforaie so that gaseo communication may be maintained between inlet Il and the interior of conduits 2l. Pebble inlet means. such as conduit Il, is provided in the upper portion'of shell Il, preferabb being substantially centrally located in closure member Il. Ediuent outlet means, such as Aconduits ll, are provided in the upper portionof the pebble heater chamber. also preferably being located in closure mem- 'ma n should be of such length um they can extend downwardly from closure member il through its bottom insulation layer and a short i -distanceintosasheatingsone llsoastoform an open space between-the lower ends of conduits 2l andthe lower insulation layer of closure il. The insulation layer oi closure il is preferably formed so that itslower surface is substantially that of an inverted cone. It is also preferred that those conduits 23 which are closer tothe insulation wall within the gas heater chamberbeshorter than those more centrally located in the chamber so that they` too roughly follow the contour of f an inverted cone. Closure member ll is provided intermediate the ends of the gas heating chamber and is adapted so .as to separate a gas distribution lone ll below said closure member ll from gas heater zone ll above closure ll. Closure member ll is similar in construction to closure member i1 in that lt is formed by joining conical portions l] of a plurality of funnel-shaped pebble outlets. ll'.

Closure member ll is provided in the gas heater chamber intermediate closure member ll and closure member il so as-to separate gas distribution Vnone Il above closure member ll from pebble collection zone ll below closure member ll. The cylindrical portions of funnel-shaped outlet members ll are preferably supported 'by closure member ll. Perforations l! extend laterally from gas distribution zone ll through conical portions l'l of funnel-shapedoutlets ll so as to communicate between gas distribution zone ll and gas heating zone ll. Perforations l! may extend similarly to perforations 2l so as to prei ventpebbles from passing therethrough. The tubular openings within cylindrical portions of outlets ll may be larger than openings ll in the lower endsof inverted conical portions l1. Pebble outlet tubes ll extend upwardly through closure member ll into the tubular openings within cylindrical portions of outlets ll to points substantially adjacent the lower ends \of inverted conical sections l1. The openingl which extends substantially concave. "Gas inlet means s h asy conduits ll extend through the walls ol th gas heater chamber and. into gas distribution. zone 3l. Conduits ll preferably extend tangentially into the gas distribution zone. Eiiluent out; let conduits ll are provided in the upper portion of the gas heater chamber, preferably extending outwardly through the walls of the chamber from insulatlonlayerinthotop ol'lo'll'. The 1nsulationwalls oi none ll maybe so formed adiaf cent theeiluent outlets as to direct ei'iluent materials toward-said outlets.V Pebble outlet means. such'i as. conduit-l1, is provided inthe lower portion ofthe gas heater chamber,preferably being centrally located in closure member il. Closure member -il is preferably shaped in the form of a hopper so as to direct pebbles within pebble lo collection lone ll toward outlet 'conduit l1. Tubular conduits ll may be secured in position similarly to pebble outlet conduits 2l. In the operation" of the apparatus shown in.

l and 4 of the drawings. pebbles are inl5f -scrted into the pebble heater chamber in the upper portion'oi shell ii through pebble inlet conduit l2. The pebbles may be distributed-'by any conventional pebble baille so as to form a bed e within pebble heater zone 21 which is of substan 20 tially uniform depth; The moving pebbles are converged by pebble converging'zones 'formed by conical portions il. Pebbles pass by gravity ilow through pebble heater zone 21 and contiguously 'llowirom zone 21 through the pebble converging' gs zones' and through pebble outlet conduits 2l.

The pebbles nil the gas heater chamber so as to form a contiguous pebble bed from pebble con- A verging zones at the lower extremity of gas heater zone Il through conduits Il. pebble converging y no sones at the lower extremity of pebble heater sone 2l. and upwardly a substantial distance into the pebble heater zone. A'If a pebble surge chamis utilized outside onthe pebble heater chambei' the pebble bed may be'maintalned so as to as nil the pebble heater zone to substantially the lower' v'en d of pebbleinl'et .conduit l2 or the lower edgeor the pebble bane means. If,`however, a pebble surge chamberls not utilized it will be dee` sirable to a ipace between the top of the an `pebble bed an'd the topl of the pebble heater cham.-

ber so as to aliowffor surging of the pebbles.

Combustible materials are injected into combus--f tion zone zl-through burners 2l and are burned-l y thereby. combustion gases are, dis- 45 tributed within the combustion zone-and pass upv ifa'dly therein and laterally from the combustion zone into the pebble converging zones where'they contact the downiiowing `pebbles just `before the pebbles pass'out of the pebble heater zone. The

50 combustion gases then pass upwardly through the yniov'ing pebble and out of the pebble heater chamber through eiliuent outlets ll. Gaseous materials'to be treated or reacted are inJected intothe gas heater chamber through nuid inlet conduits 5,.; li distributed in gas distribution zone ll.

The gases pass upwardly in zone ll and laterally from the distribution zone through perforations l2 into the pebble converging zones and upwardly through the hot pebble bed where the reaction w 'or treatment takes place. The eiiluent materials. -fri'arfnoved from gas heater zone 3lthrough ei'iluent outlet conduits ll. A gas which is inert tothe 'process being carried on' within the pebble heatefapparatu's 'is injected through fluid Vinlet or the passage of reaction material upwardly j@ through conduits 2l into the pebble heater zone ,21. lebbles are removedirom gas heater zone ll through the pebble converging zones at the lower #tremity' of gas 'heater .zoneand are collected 'in' pebble collection zone". /Pebbles are withdrawn, points within gas'heater zone ll and adjacent the is irompebble collection zonell through outlet con.-

asoaasv apparatus 48 to a point above the pebble heater chamber and are passed to the upper portion oi.'

the pebble heater chamber through pebble inlet conduit Il.

It has been determined that at least a certain minimum pebble bed depth should be maintained above a constricted outlet in order to obtain a zone of substantially uniform pebble flow. That depthis approximately 1.5 times the diameter of the chamber served by the outlet.v This has been verified by determining that the angie of slip, which is the term applied to the angle taken from a horizontal line passing through the inlet to the pebble outlet beneath which pebbles will be substantially stagnant and above which pebbles are substantially all owing, is rBpproximately 70. This angie intersects a cylindrical chamber about a centrally located outlet at a point about 1.4 times the diameter of the chamber above the level of the pebble outlet.

In order to obtain the most uniform heating it is desirable to have the smallest possible ratio of the height of the stagnant pebble bed to the height ofuniformly flowing pebble bed. This has been accomplished by the instant invention by forming the closure member at the bottom of the heater zones in the shape of a plurality of inverted cones which form portions of funnel-shaped pebble outlets. The angle formed within the inverted cone portions is preferably between 100 and 60. By forming the bottom of the pebble bed in this manner stagnant portions of the pebble bed are substantially eliminated. Heating gases are caused to contact the flowing pebbles immediately before they pass from the pebble heating zone downwardly into the gas heating zone. The gases then pass upwardly through the balance of the pebble bed. which is uniformly flowing, in heat exchange with the pebbles therein, heating those pebbles until the pebbles arrive at the outlet point where they are caused to contact the gases at the highest temperatures.

This invention provides an improved gas heater zone by forming the bottom thereof in a substantially concave shape. in the gas heater zone is also formed in a sub stantially concave shape by pebble conduits of l varying lengths. These conduits cause a depression in the center of the pebble bed and a substantially annular ridge beneath the outer pebble conduits. By forming the top of the pebble bed and the bottom of the bed in this manner the distance traveled by the reaction gases passing through the bed will be substantially equal for all portions of the gas passing therethrough. This necessarily provides more uniform reaction products.

The diameter of the openings in the bottom of the inverted conical portions and through the outlets should be approximately 7 to 8 times-the diameter of thev pebbles. By maintaining this Vproportion of outlet diameter to pebble diameter, bridging of the pebbles within the pebble outlets is prevented. The funnel-shaped pebble outlets are preferably so arranged that the outer edges of the upper portions of the conical por-- tions are tangential to one another. Ridged4 caps The top of the pebble bedy 8 cally on a circle having a radius two-thirds that ofthe radius of the chamber will be tangent each other. the wall of the chamber. and a `centrally located seventh outlet at substantially the same level. Layers of refractory material used to close the openings between the cones and the outer wall of the chamber build up the outer portion of the closure so as to complete a substantially concave arch in both the pebble heater and gas heater chambers.' The inner surface formed by these layers should also be sloped so as to furnish a smooth sloping surface for the direction of pebbles. The number of pebble outlets may depend upon the compactness desired for the pebble heater apparatus. A smaller number of outlets than seven may be utilized but such construction would necessitate a greater depth of the conical portions of the funnel-shaped outlets. The pebble bed depth should be maintained at at least 1.5 times the diameter of the cylinder or container served by the pebble outlet. Maintenance of such abed depth assureseven flow oi' the pebbles in the bed and prevents sinking" of the center of the bed. The diameter of the upper rim of the conical portion of the funnel-shaped pebble outlets is substantially the size of the imaginary chamber served by each pebble outlet. yIt will thus be seen that as the number of pebble outlets is decreased the depth of the chamber will necessarily have to be increased because of the necessity for greater vertical space for the conical portions of the concave arch to become tangent and the greater depth of pebble bed necessary above the entrance to the conical portions of the arch so as to maintain a pebble bed at least 1.5 times the diameter of the chamber served by each outlet. It is obvious that a greater number of pebble outlets than seven may be used.

One advantage of the structure of the pebble heater apparatus of this invention is that no separation means is required to separate thev pebbles from .the supporting arch. With this type apparatus, substantially the only materials supported on the arch are pebbles whiclgre'continuously moving therethrough. For that reason the strength of the apparatus need not be as great as those requiring separation means, such as aggregate material to prevent pebbles from falling through gas outlet perforations of thesupporting member and which also must support those pebbles forming that portion of the pebble 'bed below the angle of slip.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications of this' invention cante made or followed in the light of the foregoing disclosure and discussion without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure or from the vdisposed closed outer shell; insulating means within and adapted so as to insulate said shell;

pebble inlet means and eiiluent outlet means in the upper portion of said shell; a closure member within the chamber formed by 'said shell and adapted so as to divide said'chamb'er into a pebble heater zone above and a combustion zone below said closure'me'mber.' said closure member being formed by joining the upper rims of conical portions oi a plurality of funnel-shaped pebble outlets which are supported by the closed lbottom of said shell; perforations. extending laterally from said combustion zone through said conical p0rcomprises a plurality of layers of axially aligned rings of fiat tapered bricks which are concavely curved at their inner ends so as to form a smooth circular opening therethrough, said rings in the conical portion of said outlets being progressively larger in diameter from the lower conical portion to its upper end and the inner surface of said progressively larger diameter rings sloping downwardly and inwardly so as to form smooth surfaced conical portions of said funnel-shaped pebble outlets.

4. The pebble heater chamberV of claim 3,

wherein spaces between said funnel-shaped outlets are closed by plates which slope from a central ridge downwardly so as to form at least a modified continuation of the slope of said funnel-shaped outlets; and said perforations extend laterally through said conical portions from said combustion zone to said pebble heater zone in a direction not above the horizont/al.

5. Pebble heater apparatus comprising in combination a substantially vertically disposed closed outer shell; a ilrst closure member disposed intermediate the ends of said shell so as to form a pebble heater chamber above said closure member and a gas heater chamber below said closure; insulation means within said shell adapted so as to insulate the walls of said chambers; a second 'closure member disposed within said pebble heater chamber and adapted so as to divide said pebble heater chamber into a pebble heater zone above and a combustion zone below said second closure member, said second closure member being formed by joining the upper rims of conical portions of a plurality of funnel-shaped pebble outlets which are supported on said first closure member; perforations, ex-P tending laterally from said combustion zone through said conical portions of said funnelshaped pebble outlets, communicating between said combustion zone and said pebble heater zone: pebble outlet conduits extending upwardly from within said gas heater chamber through said nrst closure member into said funnel-shaped outlets so as to communicate between said pebble heater zone and said gas heater chamber; burner means extending into said combustion zone; pebble inlet means and eiliuent outlet means in the upper l0 portion of said shell; a third closure member disposed within said gas heater chamber and adapted so as to divide said gas heater chamber into a gas heater zone above and a gas distribuv tion zone below said third closure member, said third closure member being formed by joining the upper rims of conical portions of a plurality of funnel-shaped pebble outlets; a fourth closure member disposed within said gas heater chamber intermediate said third closure member and the bottom of said shell and adaptedso as to limit said gas distribution zone below said third closure member, form a pebble collection zone below said fourth closure member, and support said funnel-shaped outlets of said third closure member; pebble outlet tubes extending upwardly through said fourth closure into the funnel-shaped outlets of said third closure member so as to communicate between said gas heater zone and said pebble collection zone; perforations extending laterally from said gas distribution zone through said conical portions of said funnel-shaped outlets of said third closure member so as to communicate between said gas distribution zone and said gas heater zone; eilluent outlet means in the upper portion of said gas heater chamber; pebble outlet means in the bottom of said shell below said fourth closure member; and gas inlet means extending into said gas distribution zone.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, Iwherein said second and third closure members are substantially concave arches. Y

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said burner means extends tangentially into said combustion zone.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said pebble outlet conduits extend downwardly into said gas heating zone for a short distance, the conduits nearer said shell extending a shorter distance than more centrally located conduits.

9. .The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said ellluent outlets from said gas heater chamber extend laterally from the space which is contained within said gas heater zone above the lower ends of said pebble outlet conduits and below said rst closure member.

f DONALD J. QUIGG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

" UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 731,682 Hellig June 23, 1903 2,398,954 Odell f Apr. 23, 1946 2,412,136 Evans et al. Dec. 3. 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date y Germany Sept. 28, 1880 

